Copy 3 hK.Ji\iU ½ WAR DEPARTMENT BASIC FIELD MANUAL MILITARY POLICE * 'I. 1]i t,', WAR DEPARTMENT * 14 JUNE 1944 V/~a0/4 /9viCf2 jija, C'S BASIC FIELD MANUAL MILITARY POLICE CHANGEGS WAR DEPARTMENT No. 2 WASIlNGTON 25, D. C., 7 December 1945 FM 19-5, 14 June 1944, is changed as follows: CHAPTER 5 (Superseded) TRAFFIC CONTROL Section I. GENERAL 52. PURPOSE. Themotorvehiclehasmadepossible the rapid movement over long distances of large bodies of troops and great quantities of supplies. However, the very volume of this traffic, which must often move over a very limited roadnet, tends to produce congestion, confusion, and stagnation. Situations often arise which restrict or stop the flow of traffic in a particular area. It is only by careful traffic planning, control and direction that the in- herent mobility of modern vehicles is exploited to the utmost. As military police are a means by which a commander exercises control of traffic, every military policeman must have an understanding of the principles of traffic planning and be proficient in the control of traffic. 53. SCOPE. This chapter treats of those phases of military traffic which the military police are nor- mally called upon to control. It is concerned pri- 676545°'-46-1 1 maIilJ'.4Wi;fttm :jpnnple^ adelid iitfe& qf;rn trol f vehicular, animal, and foot traifc. 54. DEFINITION. a. Military traffic control is the enforcement of the movement control to insure a continuous flow in conformity with military re- quirements. b. Traffic control, as used in this manual, is the en- forcement and external control of traffic movement by military police as differentiated from measures such as movement control and internal control. Traffic control on roads and highways is a function of military police. However, at locations where engineer work is of prime importance, the work of the military police in controlling traffic is subject to such modification or restriction by the engineers as the engineer officer in charge may deem necessary. 55. CHARACTERISTICS OF MILITARY TRAFFIC. Military traffic consists primarily of the planned movement of large groups of vehicles on a common mission in addition to the random movement of in- dividual vehicles which is characteristic of civil traf- fic. As all agencies concerned are subject to central- ized control, military traffic is more readily con- trolled than civil. This makes possible the adoption of measures which are impractical for civil traffic. Among these are scheduled movements, and move- ments under blackout conditions. On the other hland enemy interference will, at times, disrupt military traffic. 56. PROBLEM OF TRAFFIC CONFLICTS. a. Con- flicts are the cause of most traffic problems. The four types of traffic conflicts are: 2 (1) Between vehicles on intersecting courses. (2) Between vehicles preceeding at different speeds in the same direction. (3) Between vehicles meeting head on. (4) Between vehicles moving along a road and ob- jects at edge of road. b. These conflicts, occasional collisions, congestion, and delay are due to deficiencies of roads, vehicles, and drivers. There are two general approaches to the problem: first, provide better roads, vehicles, and drivers, and second, make better use of the roads, ve- hicles, and drivers available. The first approach, which is obviously desirable but not always immnedi- ately possible, is a problem of engineering, supply, and training. The second, which is always desirable and usually possible. is a problem of planning and control. All conflict elimination is done in terms of time and space separation of traffic. Examples of time separation are the regulation of the phases of traffic flow through an intersection, and the sched- uling of columnn movemllents along a route. Examples of space separation are underpasses and one-way routes. 57. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TRAFFIC CON- TROL. Traffic control is a command responsibility. Proper traffic control depends upon efficient staff planning and the close cooperation of unit command- ers and other agencies concerned. Uniform and forceful traffic control is possible only when well- trained military police are used. The basic principle of traffic control is to exercise the minimum control necessary to permit the maximum traffic flow consist- ent with safety. Emphasis is placed on uninter- rupted movement in the combat zone, and on safe 3 movement in the communication zone and zone of interior. However, in neither case is one factor stressed to the exclusion of the other. 58. STAFF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. a. While a commander is responsible for the control of traffic, the necessary planning and supervision are carried on by his staff. b. The G4 (Supply and Evacuation) plans for and supervises traffic control, the construction and maintenance of roads, and the transportation of supplies. (1) A movements division under the Chief of Transportation is usually organized in each theater of operations and in each communications zone. Headed by an assistant Chief of Transportation, it effects movement control of cargo and personnel by water, rail, and highway. The highway division es- tablishes policies governing control of the movement of vehicles, both military and civilian, and prepares plans for the efficient utilization of highway trans- portation. Traffic regulation units are assigned to whatever authority is responsible for transportation operations-usually base or army transportation headquarters or operating units such as the Highway Transport Service-and serve as clearing agencies for the accepting and processing of transportation requests or for effecting traffic circulation and move- ment control plans for main supply routes. (2) A traffic headquarters is organized within the G-4 section of each division, corps, army, and higher headquarters. Operating under an assistant G4, it is the means by which the commander coordinates and supervises all agencies concerned with traffic. (See fig. 6.) Howev6r, where there is a Transporta- 4 tion Section all or part of the functions of the traffic headquarters may be assigned to the Transportation Section. The traffic headquarters is responsible for the following: (a) Receipt, correlation, and dissemination of traffic information. (b) Preparation of traffic circulation and control plans. (c) Supervision and coordination of traffic recon- naissance and traffic control. (d) Preparation of traffic schedules, routings, in- structions and orders and of all necessary graphs, march tables, and strip maps. (e) Coordination of all interarea troop and supply movements with higher, adjacent, or subordinate headquarters. (f) Receipt of data from tactical commanders relative to establishment of the limits beyond which vehicles are restricted to the use of blackout lights. The headquarters then publishes these limits as a Light Line. c. The G-3 (Operations and Training) plans for, orders, and supervises tactical troop movements. At all times he must coordinate with traffic headquarters on the movements planned and orders to be issued. d. The engineer advises the commander and his staff on matters relating to roads and bridges. He is responsible for- (1) Route and bridge reconnaissance and recom- mendations for the traffic circulation plans. (2) Supervision of construction, maintenance, and repair of roads and bridges and clearing of mined areas. (3) Supply of road maps and information of changes to existing maps. 5 COMMAN DER G-3 G -4 Releqirements for tactical --- Transpllortation troolpS nsoveleats. TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS Preparation of traffic circulation and control plans. Supervision of agencies charged with traffic recon- ainlssanee anld execution. Coordination with civilian traffic agencies. It-- EN'GINEER PROVOST NMARSHAL Rond and bridge reconnais- Traffic control recornaissance. sane. Recolnmmendations for control Reconlnlendations for traffic plan. circulation. Execution o f regulatory Road nlaps. mecasures for traffic con Supply of signs, route mark- trot. ing nmateriel, and other Local rerouting and resched- traffic-control devices. r linging emergencies. Sign posting and route mark- Provision of information and ing. directions along routes. Sllupervision of traffic control Report of damlage to roads or at locations where engineer any other traffic obstruc- work is of prime inlpor- tion. tance. Constrllltion, repair, an d lluaitenance of roads and bridges. COIMMIANDERS OF SUBORDINATE UNITS Driver selection and trniling. ColilnDl control. artch discipline. Guides and guards. Yote. Other essential services include- Communications (telephone, telegraph, or radio) proviled by the Signal Corps. First and second echelon maintenance by subordinate unils. Tlird and fourth echelon maintenance providled by the Ord. nance, or other service which ilrovides the vehicle. COMI .ND SUPERVISIONX - LIAISON ___- - Figure 6.-Organizltion for trfflic circtllltion and control. 6 (4) Supply of signs and route marking materials hand the posting of road signs, bypass signs, mine area signs, and load classification signs on all bridges. (5) Regulation of traffic at locations where engi- neer work is of vital importance. e. (1) The provost marshal advises the com- mander and his staff on matters of traffic control. He is responsible for- (a) Traffic control policies. (b) Traffic control reconnaissance and recommen- dations for the road traffic control plan. (c) Reports of traffic obstruction and damage to roads. (a') Establishing and operating traffic control posts. (e) Operation of traffic patrols. (f) Operation of road blocks